Sildenafil citrate (viagra) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men with Parkinson's disease

Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) is a phosphodiesterase type V inhibitor used to treat erectile dysfunction. Ten men with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and erectile dysfunction were prescribed 50–100 mg sildenafil citrate to use in eight sexual encounters over a 2‐month period. Patients underwent Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) evaluations and completed a Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) and a Sexual Health Inventory‐M version (SHI‐M) at baseline and after 8 weeks. There was statistically significant improvement in total SHI‐M scores (23.8 ± 2.0 vs 16.6 ± 2.8; p = 0.01), overall sexual satisfaction (p = 0.03), satisfaction with sexual desire (p = 0.04), ability to achieve erection (p = 0.02), ability to maintain erection (p = 0.03), and ability to reach orgasm (p = 0.04) with use of sildenafil citrate. UPDRS and BDI scores were not significantly changed. Side effects included headache in one patient during three sexual encounters. In this open‐label study, sildenafil citrate significantly improved sexual function in men with PD and erectile dysfunction.